The patent is for parallel jaw pliers with handles made from sheet metal stampings. With a separate pivot pin on each side of the joint, the pliers can grip in the middle of rods or wires which can extend through the center line of the tool. (See also contemporary Canadian patent CA-35,834 for more on the basic pliers form, and British patent GB-189007002 for multiple uses based on this structure.)

The patent indicates Bernard planned to manufacture these pliers; known examples were manufactured by Wm. Schollhorn Co. of New Haven (Bernard owned a controlling interest in the company at one point), and Bernard's later patents were assigned to Schollhorn. Schollhorn's catalog featured a significant assortment of specialty pliers based on Bernard's parallel jaw patent.

The patent was the basis for Wm. Schollhorn Company's suit against the Bridgeport Manufacturing Company for patent infringement. Bridgeport was producing parallel jaw pliers based on Adolf Schatz's patents (no. 557,615 and 571,021) which ultimately were found to infringe on patent no. 427,220.